Justin in custody for early morning robbery

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE
POLICE SERVICE

***************************
At approximately 5:15 a.m. this morning, city police received a 911 call regarding a robbery that had just occurred at the Metro Store in the Market Mall.

A lone male attended in the store and stole the cash register drawer from the female clerk. 

A male employee chased the suspect out of the store. 

The suspect threw the cash register drawer at the male and threatened to hurt him, but neither employee was physically harmed.

The suspect continued to flee the area.

Another customer arriving at the store spoke to the employee and pointed out a vehicle that he had observed the suspect get into.

The vehicle was leaving the parking lot as several police vehicles were on their way to the call.

One of the cruisers observed a vehicle hit a snow bank on Second Line West, quickly leave the area and head north on Farwell Terrace.

These officers decided to check this vehicle out and observed the vehicle turn onto Rossmore Road and strike another snow bank. 

Officers approached the vehicle and confirmed this was the suspect from the robbery.

The stolen money was located with the suspect.  

27-year-old Justin Whalen of no fixed address was taken into custody and has been charged with one count of robbery and one count of breach of probation for failing to keep the peace and be good. 

He will be appearing in bail court this morning.

***********************
If you have any information regarding these crimes, or any other crime, call Crime Stoppers at 705-942-7867 or 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)

Submit an e-tip from the Crime Stoppers’ website at www.saultcrimestoppers.com or text keyword SSM with your tip to 274637.